Recent investigations from this group have identified that genetic variants of genes associated with monogenic forms of nephrolithiasis are expressed in idiopathic calcium oxalate kidney stone patients and could influence stone forming risk. Utilizing patient samples from the Mayo Clinic Florida Kidney Stone Registry, we will demonstrate that expression of these heterozygous mutations in idiopathic nephrolithiasis act as genetic modifiers of disease presentation increasing risk of kidney stone formation. Complimented by the analysis of environmental and lifestyle risk factors, these studies will define environmental and genetic susceptibility factors involved in kidney stone formation and reoccurrence.

The purpose of this study is to develop urine tests that will measure biological markers and use them to track the status of kidney disease. This test may help doctors to better care for patients with kidney disease.

In childhood nephrotic syndrome, the kidneys leak protein, causing body swelling and a variety of possible complications such as infection, blood clots, and kidney failure. The first-line treatment for nephrotic syndrome is corticosteroids. Many children respond to prednisone treatment, but the disease comes back (relapses) when the prednisone is stopped or the dose is reduced. Children with frequently relapsing or steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome are at risk for toxicity from frequent exposure to corticosteroids. Currently, the standard treatment for frequently relapsing and steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome involves a variety of medications that suppress the immune system, which can produce serious side effects. We propose a study to examine the effects of a different medication, ACTH, on nephrotic syndrome. ACTH is a hormone naturally found in the body. Recently, in adult studies, ACTH has been shown to be effective for the treatment of nephrotic syndrome. It has also been shown to have mild and reversible side effects. ACTH is potentially an attractive therapeutic alternative for the treatment of frequently relapsing and steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome in children. Our study will randomly assign patients with frequently relapsing or steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome to either ACTH treatment or no treatment. This will allow us to study the effects of ACTH on this disease and its side effects, by comparing how patients do on ACTH treatment versus no treatment. We hypothesize that ACTH gel is superior to no treatment in maintaining remission in children with frequently relapsing or steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome.

There is a need to develop blood and/or urine tests that will help to detect early signs of rejection in people who have had kidney transplant. Researchers will examine blood, urine, and tissue samples and try to identify genetic markers for certain conditions like rejection, response to therapy, and scarring of the kidney. By studying gene patterns, researchers hope to be able to diagnose these conditions earlier and improve kidney survival.

This study is being done to see if daratumumab is safe and effective in the treatment of proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal immune deposits (PGNMID) and C3 glomerulopathy associated with monoclonal gammopathy (C3GN). This is an inflammatory disease in the kidney due to the production of abnormal proteins. There are no known standard effective treatments for patients with PGNMID and C3GN secondary to monoclonal gammopathy. These diseases are caused by abnormal production of proteins (monoclonals) by abnormal clones. Daratumamb has been shown to be effective in treating patients with multiple myeloma a disease which also caused by over production of monoclonal proteins from abnormal clones. Everyone in this study will receive daratumumab.

New treatments of the future may use stem cells, cells that naturally occur in our blood or belly/abdominal fat, to help people with kidney disease. The purpose of this study is to understand the function of specific cell types and how well they may work to repair our kidneys. Two cell groups, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), will be examined. Study participants will include individuals with varying degrees of kidney function and potential causes of kidney disease. This information will help plan for future studies using stem cells to treat kidney disease.

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